KARACHI: Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation recovered 480 bottles of foreign whisky from consignment declared to contain food stuff imported by Embassy of Lebanon, Islamabad.
According to the details, Director I&I Irfan Javed received credible information regarding smuggling of liquor in the garb of diplomatic goods.
It is necessary to mention here that Directorate of Customs I&I blocked a number of consignments in March, 2019 imported by the embassies of Indonesia, Syria, Algeria and Lebanon after clearance from the revelent Customs Collectorates. Headquarter was requested vide various correspondences to approach the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for nominating its representative for conducting joint examinations.
The ministry vide letter no: U.O.P. (IV) -5/28/EC/2019 dated May 22, 2019 only nominated its representative for joint examination of Indonesian Embassy consignment imported vide GD No. KAPW-PP-13567 dated 16.3.2019.
It resulted in recovery of 480 whisky “Black Label” which did not contain any food stuff at all. Headquarters was again requested vide Directorate of Customs I&I letter no: C.No. 674-App-II/DCI/Snap Checking/2018/4443 dated 10.10.2019 requesting therein to approach the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to send representatives of respective embassies during the examination on 22.10.2019 as considerable time has lapsed and the matter cannot be left pending indefinitely.
The consignment imported by Embassy of Lebanon, Islamabad cleared vide GD Nos. KAPW-PP-135607 dated 16.3.2019 from MCC Appraisement West Karachi had been blocked by the Directorate on information of comprising contraband goods.
The consignment was said to contain food stuff. However, examination conducted on 22.10.2019 at BOML Terminal, West Wharf, Karachi resulted in recovery of 480 bottles of blended Scotch Whisky (Johny Waker Black Label) in One (1) wooden box worth Rs4,320,000/. It did not contain any food stuff at all.
Accordingly the consignment being liable to confiscation has been seized under Section 168 of the Customs Act, 1969 and further proceedings are underway.
